😐A single person spends $1,729 per month in Mariehamn vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,622 per month in Mariehamn vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,515 per month in Mariehamn vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Mariehamn costs about 37% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mariehamn sits 29% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.99€12.91
$4.70฿154
218.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2€60.5
$45.37฿1,483
54.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66€10.04
$8.43฿276
38.32%
Cappuccino
$3.92€3.38
$2.93฿95.7
33.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.39
$0.69฿22.42
301.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$0.37฿12.00
443.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.74€6.66
$2.41฿78.7
221.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.20€5.34
$3.72฿122
66.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.06
$2.23฿73.0
-44.84%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11€2.68
$1.83฿59.9
69.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.41€2.94
$2.17฿70.9
57.14%
Eggs
$3.10€2.67
$2.21฿72.4
40.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.26€10.56
$19.74฿645
-37.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.01€8.62
$3.63฿119
175.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40€16.71
$13.53฿442
43.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84€2.45
$3.28฿107
-13.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49€2.15
$1.61฿52.7
54.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49€2.14
$2.41฿78.7
3.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.55€3.92
$2.08฿68.1
118.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.53฿49.97
8.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41€1.22
$1.48฿48.41
-4.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76€2.37
$0.99฿32.32
178.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11€1.82
$0.51฿16.68
313.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.27€8.84
$4.41฿144
132.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.88€11.95
$19.38฿634
-28.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.77€3.24
$1.78฿58.1
111.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.83
$2.71฿88.7
21.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.95€2.54
$1.37฿44.83
115.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.1€49.19
$11.39฿372
401.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.30€7.15
$3.02฿98.7
174.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05€0.91
$0.99฿32.51
6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.29€20.06
$14.10฿461
65.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.34€2.02
$1.36฿44.55
72.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K€23.2K
$28.2K฿921.9K
-4.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K€22.3K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-21.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212€183
$122฿3,978
74.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.80€27.39
$13.57฿444
134.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.66€36.73
$18.31฿599
132.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.61€37.55
$60.2฿1,969
-27.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.90€19.72
$17.14฿560
33.61%
Cinema Ticket
$16.47€14.18
$8.69฿284
89.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161€139
$693฿22.7K
-76.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.7K฿512.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9€69.7
$59.5฿1,946
35.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.47€27.96
$34.77฿1,137
-6.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.9€81.7
$115฿3,746
-17.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5€80.5
$83.3฿2,723
12.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665€572
$613฿20.0K
8.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$539€464
$437฿14.3K
23.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,174€1,011
$2,094฿68.5K
-43.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$846€729
$1,509฿49.3K
-43.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,672€2,301
$3,749฿122.6K
-28.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,509€1,299
$2,616฿85.5K
-42.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mariehamn
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,737€2,357
$508฿16.6K
438.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.9
5.33
-26.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mariehamn: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Mariehamn versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 439% higher in Mariehamn, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Mariehamn versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $293 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mariehamn vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mariehamn or Phuket?
Mariehamn costs about 37% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mariehamn vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,593 per month in Mariehamn and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mariehamn or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mariehamn compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,729 in Mariehamn and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Mariehamn vs Phuket?
Public transport costs about 402% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mariehamn or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Mariehamn at $1,729. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mariehamn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mariehamn or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,729 in Mariehamn. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mariehamn compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Mariehamn or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mariehamn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.